OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):Parliament: Maori Party Mark One Year In Parliament,
Submits Foreshore Act RepealDefence:
Government Fails To Hock PlanesNRT:
Brethren Miss Clark Govt - Did They Sink Her Swedish
Chums?Environment: Court Sends Whangamata
Marina Decision Back To Minister MORE POLITICAL
HEADLINES:

Scoop Audio: [1] Selwyn
Manning and Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss: PM Helen
Clark encouraging Tonga to continue with constitutional and
democratic reform; Reports had been circulating in Australia
about Helen Clark's husband, Peter Davis, we put the record
straight; Nats are building up to a leadership coup; and NZ
Fashion Week has arrived.

- While
the Greens are still challenging the basis of the
Auditor-General's report, the caucus has agreed that any
Green Party Parliamentary spending that is ultimately found
to have been outside the rules will be paid back, Co-Leader
Jeanette Fitzsimons says. "However, we are not at that
point yet. The Auditor-General has not issued his final
report, we are still challenging his inconsistent new
interpretation of the rules. See... Greens
shed light on spending issue [1] ALSO:

Scoop has obtained a mashed up audio of
currently embattled National leader Dr Don Brash offering
love advice to the population of Christchurch. During 2005
Dr Brash regularly appeared on Christchurch's RDU –
however after an ill-fated attempt at dispensing
relationship tips as an 'love advice guru' Dr Brash's chats
with the then host of the RDU breakfast show ceased. See...
Dr
Brash Offers Love Advice (2005) [1] ALSO:Kiwi FM: Kiwi FM: List and Wammo on Brash Love
Advice [2]

- In an upcoming issue of Investigate
magazine, editor Ian Wishart is expected to present the
result of his probe into the alleged relationship between
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Don Brash... Wishart is
expected to defend his campaign to unveil the implied
affair, despite his having found no evidence of it in months
of dogged investigation. "Notice that Clark and Brash are
never seen together in public?" he will say, "What are they
trying to hide?' See... Investigate
To Claim Clark/Brash Affair [1] ALSO:

- The ninth annual Radio Active 89FM Handle the
Jandal DIY music awards were held tonight, with Wellington
fashionista Sally Tran scooping the field to win the Golden
Jandal for the favourite music video. Sally Tran won the
award for Charlie Ash’s O’Baby, also picking up the
award for Best Concept earlier. The Favourite Music Video
was voted by a nationwide txt-vote and the audience at
Wellington’s Embassy Theatre. See...
Number-8 ‘weirdness’ wins Golden Jandal [1]

National Party Welfare spokeswoman
Judith Collins is questioning the Government’s commitment
to mental health in light of new figures showing 73 people
have been on a benefit for more than a decade due to stress
“Given the explosive growth in the sickness and invalids
benefits under Labour, more should have been done in the
past seven years to rehabilitate those who are suffering
stress-related conditions. See... 73
on benefit for more than a decade due to stress [1]
ALSO:

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today condemned the military
coup in Thailand and is calling for an immediate restoration
of democracy. She said she was shocked at news of attempts
overnight by the Thai Army to overthrow the government.
"While details of what is happening are still sketchy, I am
deeply disturbed by the reporting out of Thailand. See... NZ
condemns Thailand coup [1] ALSO:

Too many New Zealand drivers
were showing zero respect by preying on the disadvantaged
and parking in wheelchair-signed carparks, a leading parking
expert said today. New Zealand drivers were abusing the
mobility parking scheme, NZ Parking Association chairman
Colin Waite said today. He said statistics showed both
physically abled and disabled were failing to honour the
conditions of use of the scheme. See... Cheating
on mobility carparks: Appalling [1]

- Maoridom has lost one its foremost
academics with news of the death of Professor Sir Hugh
Kawharu, Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia said
today. Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu was Paramount Chief of
Ngati Whatua, Chair of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust
Board, and an Emeritus Professor of the University of
Auckland having written extensively on issues including the
Treaty of Waitangi, ethnicity, and Maori land tenure. See...
Maoridom
loses one of its foremost academics [1]
ALSO:

- Day One at Fashion Week is not what
you might expect. It is really another day of set up,
registration and a final desperate rush for tickets and
seating. But in the evening, everyone kicks up their heels
for the official opening party, and if you are lucky like we
were, at the Karen Walker Eyewear Launch, where I tried on
the divine glasses... See... Fashion.co.nz:
Fashion Week Day One [1] ALSO:

WORLD NEWS

[1]
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Troops from Thailand's U.S.-trained
military, backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers,
seized the prime minister's office on Tuesday (September 19)
night and filled TV screens with propaganda, in a bloodless
coup led by a "revolutionary body" to end corruption and
stop perceived attacks on the king. "There has been social
division like never before," a self-appointed Military
Reform Council announced without identifying its members.
See… Thailand
US Trained Military Mount Bloodless Coup [2] . See
also... Scoop
Link: Thai Military Launches Coup, Backs King [3]
MORE:

- Addressing the United Nations
General Assembly today, United States President George W.
Bush said peace is taking root in the Middle East and
pledged further efforts to help the region’s people
solidify progress. See... Bush
tells UN peace is taking root in Mid-East [1]

Scoop Audio: [1] General
Assembly Update; Annan Praises Role of the UN in Meeting
World Challenges - President Bush Urges a More Tolerant and
Hopeful Society in the Middle East - UN Envoy Puts Forward
Proposals to Revive Darfur Peace Plan - Annan Warns All Out
Civil War in Iraq if Violence Persists Much Longer - UN
Anti-Drug Czar Calls for Measures to Counter the Drug
Cultivation in Afghanistan.

SCOOP COLUMNS

------------

MOTORNET: Karl Ferguson Takes Out A Hot & Economic
Red Korean

- When it comes to cars, $16,690 is
not a lot of money to hand over for a brand spanking new
model. In fact, you can’t do any better, and with its new
Picanto, Kia is clearly banking on this to ensure its latest
effort rolls off the showroom door. Prior to picking up the
Picanto, I had spent a week behind the wheel of Mercedes’
S500 uber sedan, so I had a pretty good idea of what people
expect in a $280,000 luxury car. But what do people expect
at the opposite end of the market? What will your
hard-earned dollars buy you? See... MOTORNET:
Picanto Style [1]

- The President of the United States
owes this country an apology. It will not be offered, of
course. He does not realize its necessity. There are now
none around him who would tell him or could. The last of
them, it appears, was the very man whose letter provoked ...
See... Keith
Olbermann: Bush Owes Us an Apology [1] MORE
COMMENT ON BUSH'S PLANS TO LEGALISE TORTURE:

- Warning: This book is
intended to scare you. Its message is keep saving, but clean
up your act when it comes to investing those savings for
your retirement, or its milk arrowroots and mittens in Bluff
for you. Pension Panic will show you just how many
investment advisers and managed funds rip you to bits, and
help you to avoid the traps. Author and economist, Gareth
Morgan, dispels some of the mythology, hype and bluster that
can cloud your judgement when it comes to planning for a
secure future. See... Pension
Panic - Tough Talk On Sorting Your Finance [1]

- With Boston's Museum of Fine Arts
nearing an accord with Italy over its collection of
classical art acquired primarily from Italy both before and
after the1983 UNESCO curb on antiquities trafficking - I
thought it might be interesting to revisit a conversation I
had with Cornelius Vermeule III, MFA's "swashbuckling"
curator of classical art for almost 40 years (1957-1996).
Vermeule has also shared a long friendship with Bob Hecht,
the dealer now on trial in Rome for antiquities trafficking,
and he's acquired important antiquities from him as well --
like the beautiful statue of Sabina -- in which Hecht acted
as "agent" for the November 1979 transaction. Hecht also
sold an oil flask (lekythos) to MFA in November 1989, and in
1991, a South Italian amphora that he first owned was sold
to the museum, depicting the murder of Atreus. See... Ancient
Art Italy Wants Back From Boston's MFA [1]

OTHER NEWS (JUST
POLITICS)

------------

Parliament:
Maori Party Mark One Year In Parliament, Submits Foreshore
Act Repeal

- As the nation mourns the loss of
another great Maori leader, the words of a well-known
whakatauaki have come to mind: Hinga atu he tete kura, ara
mai he tete kura. As one red frond falls, another red frond
rises. This proverb speaks to us of the process of renewal
or rejuvenation which is always associated with the sorrow
of death. The sadness of our people is immense - as we
reflect on those distinctive and irreplaceable leaders of
our time whom we have lost in the last space of time. See...
Sharples:
The First Year as a Parliamentary Team [1]
ALSO:

- National Party
Defence spokesman Murray McCully is calling on the Defence
Minister to provide a full explanation on the lack of
progress with the sale of the Air Force Skyhawk and
Aermacchis one year after the Government announced a
successful sale. “The deal is looking like pre-election
window dressing, with no substance to back it up.” See...
Explanation
needed on Skyhawks so-called sale [1]
ALSO:

- Hardworking weblog researcher No Right
Turn writes that in the Swedish election, the centre-right
campaign may have been assisted by the money of the
Exclusive Brethren... The centre-left Swedish Government
was much admired by New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark
whose own Government and potential allies came under fire
from the Exclusive Brethren in the 2005 election campaign.
See... NRT:
The Brethren smear in Sweden as well [1] ALSO:

Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.

ScoopPro is a new offering aimed at ensuring professional users get the most out of Scoop and support us to continue improving it so that Scoop continues to exist as a public service for all New Zealanders. More>>